Robert Richardson (1850–1901) was an Australian journalist, poet and writer for children, possibly the first Australian-born children's writer.

[1] He was born in New South Wales, eldest son of John Richardson, a New South Wales politician and store-keeper, and Janet, sister of Peter Nicol Russell.

at the University of Sydney and later became well known for his contributions to a number of Sydney and Australian periodicals and newspapers.

He was also a member of the firm of Richardson and Company, an Armidale-based millers and general store-keepers, started by his father.

[3] He left Australia for a life in Edinburgh in 1886 before returning to Sydney around 1894.